COLA

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2022

October 13, 2021 • By

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Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive, so the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. But, if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your my Social Security account. You can access this information in early December prior to the mailed notice.

If you prefer to access your COLA notice online and not receive the mailed notice, you can log in to your personal my Social Security account to opt out of a mailed COLA notice and any other notices that are available online by updating your Preferences in the Message Center. Did you know you can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for you? That way, you always know when we have something important for you – like your COLA notice. If you don’t have an account yet, you must create one by November 17, 2021, to receive the 2022 COLA notice online.

January 2022 marks other changes that will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2022 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2022.

Be among the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications.

You can find more information about the 2022 COLA here.

 

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Charles

    It’s a shame the richest country on earth, treat non- Americans citizens better than their own natural born citizens with nice benefits. If my family can get a nice tax free no pay back business loan and can skip paying taxes as the business takes off and makes my family money , in 10 -15 years I wouldn’t need Soc. Sec. Check money as I would have enough to live out my day modesty.

    • john j.

      cry me a river you trump lover

      • Rev B.

        Always Americans first. I do not care who the president is. No special treatments to anyone. If you cannot pay a loan back for a business, you should not get a loan. no ifs ands nor buts for any reason.

      • Dee

        lol john

      • Susan

        agree

    • Erik F.

      True enough. Thank you for taking the time to get the truth out.

  2. John S.

    How much will the non-cola disability payments increase, if at all? Last year, the 1.3% did not increase pay for people living in rural areas, despite rising rental costs.

    • Trump

      I must say…he done more for us then you wanted!!! You should feel so ashamed!!!

  3. Michele E.

    How do you figure the numbers on the 5.9 % increase on your Social Security check.If you receive 1000 dollars do you times that by 6 %?

  4. Sheila V.

    How do I get copies of my SSA notices for 2018 and 2019?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sheila. Thanks for your question.  Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. Look for the general inquiry telephone number under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this helps. 

  5. Marie R.

    What I would like to know is this, I’m on Social Security Disability and I received a letter stating I am only getting 1.3 percent under the COLA plan. Why is that? Because $12 is not a very big increase in what I get on a monthly basis. So why is that?

    • A.C.

      For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  6. Hope M.

    Hi do people who get death benefits will social security money increase

    • V.V.

      Hi Hope, thanks for using our blog. All monthly Social Security (retirement, disability and survivors) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022.

      The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022.  Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021. 

      For more details about the new COLA, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment information page.

      • William J.

        I AM,WILLIAM R.JOHNSON//2102AMY LYNN//DECEMBER 16 1958 AND LIVE IN ABILENE TX.79603 I NEEDS MONEY NOW,PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP WITH RENT,IAM ON SSI.AN 63 YEAR OLD CAN’T WORK, NEEDS HELP 🙏 😢 PLEASE HELP THINGS ÌS HIGH COSTS LIVE IS HURTING ME BAD GOD BLESS YOU ARE THEIR TO HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER I,MAY GET KICK OUT,MY PLACE OF LIVEING PLEASE MY PHONE NUMBER IS 1-325-266-3007- HELP HELP HELP HAVE HEART I,ASK AROUND NO HELP ME,, I AM U.S.A.SO I NEEDS YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, HELP JESUS C. SOME ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE PLEASE HELP ME…..WILLIAM R.J. THANKS AGAIN GOD JESUS..

        • A.C.

          Hi, William. We are sorry to hear about your situation. You may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps. 

  7. Alex J.

    Can anyone explain this news?

    Social Security won’t be able to pay full benefits by 2034

    Social Security won’t be able to pay full benefits by 2034 – UNSHARED NEWS

  8. Barbara k.

    If i apply for social security in nov , am i entitled to the jan 5.9% increase when my social security is approved?

    • V.V.

      Hi Barbara, thanks for using our blog. If you are an insured worker, you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits when you reach age 62. Regardless of when you choose to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount will include all cost-of-living increases starting with December of the year you attain age 62. Check out our Social Security Benefit Amounts web page for more details. We hope this is helpful.

  9. Theresa T.

    What will Medicare increase be? Historically, Medicare increases take away all or most of increase, those on housing also have their rents increased because their income goes up. Therefore, between increase in Medicare and senior housing costs, increase doesn’t help seniors survive the high cost of living increase. We need more cash in our pockets for groceries, gasoline, heating fuel, etc. Please consider leaving our Medicare premiums the same as well as housing costs, thereby actually giving us an actual increase we can spend on necessities. Thank you.

    • V.V.

      Hi Theresa, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Information about Medicare changes for 2022, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2022 are announced. Final 2022 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

  10. Debbie B.

    I will be turning 66 in March, 2022.I will be filing for my spousal benefits to start in January. I have started my application for Ss benefits online already. There is nothing that asks if I want to include my spousal benefits. It does ask for my spouse’s information. Will this one application include my spousal benefits or just mine?

    • V.V.

      Hi Debbie. Thanks for using our blog. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your spouse’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your spouse’s full retirement benefit.

      Generally, when applying for Social Security benefits, we typically explore all other benefits that could yield you a higher benefit amount. To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit amount, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this information helps.

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